This was our second trip to Cancun but this time we stayed at the Rui Palace Las Americas for our first family vacation with our married children and grandson. Also was our first all-inclusive. I don't have anything bad to say about this fine resort. The staff was wonderful and they got to know us. The buffet was the best we had ever had. The staff are such hard workers. The rooms were also wonderful. The beds are alittle hard but that was fine with us. To us, this hotel was first class. We will most definitely go back to this hotel.

My wife and I just return from Cancun. I had never been there and neither had she. We booked at the Riu based on the in-laws', who are well traveled,review over the winter. The wife has been on several cruises and stated that she liked this so much better. Being a bit of a hick, I was in hog heaven. The entire experience at the hotel was just first rate. There was never a question about getting service with a smile from check in to check out. While Cancun as a lot to offer, and in a variety of ways depending on what you're looking for, we never got too far from the hotel. We ate at the Brazilian, steakhouse, and Japanese restaurants and all were very good. I'll try to break it up a little and try to give a review and other thoughts specifically.
We flew into the airport. My recommendation is to get outside in a hurry. Stick your head down and go. Don't stop and talk to anyone in a tie. If you're with a vacation company they'll have vans or buses waiting.
The ride to the hotel zone is crazy! They drive like maniacs...all of them. They all honk the same too. It's funny actually but a bit unnerving. One note on the road (see bus travel later) is that it splits at some point. You need a good map with hotels and restaurants/ shopping in order to get your bearings. We tipped the van driver $2 US and everything got inside. We arrived at 12:30 and rooms are not ready until around 3:00 so we did a bit of waiting. There are bathrooms in the lobby and you can dig out a suit if you're anxious to get in the water. Instead, we got into the line (outside between the main pool and nightclub) for restaurant reservations. I would highly recommend doing that. We just about were unable to get into the Japanese, which was the in-law's favorite. We stayed four nights and were able to get reservations each night. We went to Carlos and Charlie's one night simply because we wanted to do so. We got checked into the room about 2:30.
The room was great. The AC was on ice cold (temps are in Celcius). The fridge is loaded with beer and pop. There are dispensers of vodka, taquilla, brandy, and something else. The bed was great and we found no need for a pillowtop as others have stated on here. The service was great for our stay. We went to the pool right after the room and when we got back it had been picked up again. Put the green tab on the door when you leave in the mornings. There has also been a lot mentioned about noise on here. We didn't have any problems with this. Our room was on the third floor overlooking the pool with the water bar. I think room 311.
The elevators have been another issue on here that we had no problemo with. They are small but we never had to wait and rarely had company.
We went down on the beach one day but pretty much stuck to the pools. Word of warning if you have kids...some folks like to sun bathe without tops. I'm generally in favor of it but there was a rather "big boned" lady who was topless and is nothing kids should see or that I needed to look at for hours. The beach was nice. It was little rocky but very clean water that cools you off. If you want an umbrella you should get down to the pools by 9 or 10AM. We never had any problem getting lounge chairs though. The one issue with the beach is that they are public, meaning that there will be a steady stream of vendors sellings rafts, shells, necklaces, hair braids, etc. that have no problem approaching you. Sometimes the same person three or four times. My recommendation is keep your head down (like in the airport) and try to ignore them..unless you want to buy something.
We never took a cab. We rode the bus. Make sure you know where you want to go. The ride is 65 pesos (65 cents) one way. If you want to go south you have to cross the road, go through the mall, and get on the bus on the other side. Be prepared for a crazy ride. We were told to use the R-2 which worked out. Just stand up in the rear and they'll stop and let you off. The drivers aren't very friendly and won;t give you change if you give them US $. We changed $20 for pesos at the hotel but there is a bank across the street. I don't think we lost anything using the hotel (front desk).
There is a very nice mall across the street and to your left as you walk out of the hotel. Not the grungy one directly across the road (they don't stop for pedestrains!!!) The mall is Cancun Center and is pretty big. The other big one is the Flamingo I think and is south a few KM. Day travel is pretty good if you wnat to walk. It's gets a little more exciting at night. I was asked if I wanted a tattoo in front of Carlos and Charlie's. When I said no the guy offered cocaine, ecstasy, or whatever I needed. I sat there and watched him do it for an hour while we ate. Things you don't see in rural Missouri. I didn't get into haggling at the malls. It's pretty much like home. The wife did score two purses for about the price of one at the mall though, so give a go. They don't like to see you leave the store.
I thought the food was great, even at the buffet. They had a lot of things I had never eaten before and it was all good. They had a big variety at each meal. You can go from the beach/ pool right into the buffet. The service was always with a smile. We ate breakfast every morning outside and had the same waiter. We tipped him $5 on the last morning. I came to find out that the entertainment crew makes $20 USD a week so we felt like the service we got definitley deserved at least that much. The Brailian restuarant starts off with a buffet then proceeds into everything on the menu. They bring vegies out first then it's all meat after that. I think we had pork loin, ribeye, etc. It was good. The staekhouse gives you a choice. I had the beef tenderloin and lobster tail. The wife had a ribeye. Mine was good. The Japanese was excellent. You eat with chopsticks but can have a fork if you ask. Do not eat the little green ball with the apetizer as it is HOT! I'd recommend any of those restaurants.
In summary...this will be hard to beat. I had no issues with the natives or Europeans that some people have according to this site. All inclusive is the way to go. By the time you figure out drinks and meals out (Carlos and Charlie's was about $50) it's easily worth it. I recommend the hotel and amenities without reservation.

My wife and I just spent 7 nights at the Palace.

Check in went smooth, were arrived around 12:00 and were checked into our room with ease.

The AC in the room is so so. It blows cool, but does not remove the humidity. We woke up the first morning on hard beds and also WET. We went to bed with damp sheets. The AC is not the same as it is here in the states.

Day 1, go across the street to the drug store, get some antibotics as a precaution. I got sick, and did not drink the tap water. " I got mine on day 6"

The restraunts do a good job for dinner. We ate the buffets for breakfast and lunch. Day 5-7 I did not eat anything but dinner.

The beach was nice, lots of rocks, but you can find areas without rocks to swim. The quite pool is clean, while the activity pool is not. I did a 10 min scuba intro at 8:30 am in the activity pool and it was gross. We did not hang around the pool bar at all.

Drink lots of water, they give it to you at the front desk. Do not Drink TAP water, I did not do this either, but still got a bug.

In any event, this place is very nice. Yes hard beds, higher floors above 3 were musky smell, and very warm.

We were ready to get back home after just 4 days. I was tired of going to bed in damp sheets, and waking up in wet sheets.

For the people that are coming from the north, west etc I am sure you will enjoy. We live in Naples Forida, and our beaches are much nicer then Cancun.

I told my wife when we were in the airport coming home, I will never go back to this kind of places. When we unpacked at home our cloths were damp and smelly. Just like the hotle room.

Bring plastic cups, becasue they give you these little cups for your drinks.

Have fun, take your meds in advance

I don't really know how to be nice about this... this was my worst hotel stay ever... and on my honeymoon! :/
I really want to question the people who gave this hotel high marks... I am a high-tech guy and really trusts the online reviews... but the marks for this hotel is totally OFF...

here's the summary:
Riu Palace Las Americas is a 3 star hotel at best, with an attempt at being 5 stars.

this is from a frequent traveler who has seen what real 4 or 5 star hotels are, a Marriott Platinum elite member.
If you are used to the quality of real 4 or 5 star hotels, DON'T STAY HERE! You will surely be disappointed.

The 1st ocean front room they gave me had broken hairdryer, half broken toilet, broken door window handle, plastic piece falling of floor lamp, and dirty shower tub. The next day they gave me another room after my complaint, and we walked in to find the bathroom floor full of water and the water line from the toilet pulled off the wall. The whole time, I tried not to be angry because it was our honeymoon.

I felt so bad because my wife wanted me to book at Ritz-Carlton for the honeymoon... "Just in case, RIU's standards are not up to par"...
I didn't listen because of all the great reviews here about Riu...
PLEASE DON'T MAKE THE SAME MISTAKE I DID!

Oh, I think it's ridiculous to have to make reservations at the restaurants for an all-inclusive resort. They make you make reservations at 12pm to 5pm, but our flight was delayed first night, so we couldn't make reservation till 2nd nite. We waited 30 minutes for the lady to till us the 2nd and 3rd nites were ALL FULL. so for staying 4 nites, we only get to eat at the non-buffet for 1 nite... what the???
At least the resort manager tried to help by getting us a couple of reservations.

If you are a QUANTITY over quality person, this is great for you... unlimited alcohol, food...
BUT if you are a QUALITY over quantity person, like my wife and me... Do what I will do next time... book something at Ritz or Marriott or any other AMERICAN known high quality resort.